204 
SANDSTONE ROCKS. 
less elevated masses, lichens, mosses, and heaths 
were growing in great profusion and luxuriance. 
The strata are nearly horizontal, and partake of 
the characters of those already described. 
A fine lake, overhung with sandstone rocks, and 
crested with a noble wood, near tlie seat of the 
Earl of Sheffield, in the ])arisli of Fletching, may 
also be mentioned as affording another example 
of the picturesque scenery, to which the irregular 
surface of the sandstone gives rise in certain 
situations. Here, as in other parts of its course, 
the soil is in general sterile ; but some spots near 
Fletching are remarkable for fiourishing oaks : 
these contain six parts of sand, one part of clay, 
and a considerable proportion of finely divided 
vegetable matter. 
In the j)arishes of Maresfield and Buxted there 
are also fine escarpments of the sand rocks. 
Near West Hothly, a deep and extensive valley 
is flanked by a line of perpendicular cliffs of sand- 
stone, of a very imposing character. From the 
circumstance of an enormous mass of rock being 
supported by a smaller one, it is called Big-iipon- 
little.” This group of rocks, like those above 
mentioned, clearly owe their present aj)pearance 
to those disrupting and denuding o])erations, ^vhose 
effects are every where so strikingly manifest. 
Before proceeding to an examination of the 
course and extent of the Tilgate beds, it may be 
convenient in this place to take a brief notice of 
two mineral substances ; one of which was formerly 
of great importance to the inhabitants of the south- 
east of England in an economical point of view ; and 
